Compartmented freezer or refrigerator



Nov. 8, 1955 H. A. DOWNING COMPARTMENTED FREEZER OR REFRIGERATOR 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 51, 1952 ml? 9!? Ham ,4. 00W/W/V6 M i flz oAYZZBIVHS' Nov. 8, 1955 H. A. DOWNING 2,722,807

COMPARTMENTED FREEZER OR REFRIGERATOR Filed Jan. 31, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet2 A fllll I '1 5 7 (2925 2 37 /2 b 4 W p AITMWJYS United States Patent OCOMPARTMENTED FREEZER OR REFRIGERATOR I Helen A. Downing, Minneapolis,Minn.

Application January 31, 1952, Serial No. 269,257

3 Claims. (Cl. 62-89) This invention relates to compartmented freezersor refrigerators and more particularly to a type of refrigerator inwhich a maximum of space may be utilized in food treatment and storagewhile still preserving easy accessibility to all the food containedtherein.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide for a simple andeflicient refrigerating apparatus in which food may be selectivelypositioned for easy removal from a relatively small opening in saidapparatus, for sharp cooling in proximity to a cooling element or forless drastic refrigeration remote from said cooling element.

Another object of this invention is to provide for an apparatus of theclass described in which compactly arranged containers may besimultaneously shifted within a refrigerator chamber having limitedspace so that any of the containers may be conveniently removed from acold-conserving opening without independently handling or removing anyof the other containers, and by the same simultaneous shifting movementany one of said containers may be selectively cooled at a sharp rate orat a milder rate depending upon the position chosen.

It is a further object to provide for a removable container inspace-conserving relation with other containers in a refrigerationchamber which container is adapted to make and retain frozen dessertsindependently of the cooling or handling of food within the othercontainers.

It is a still further object to provide for a unique sharp freezerhaving a high degree of utility and pleasing appearance which may beindependently operable or may be attached for cooperative operation witha refrigerator body of normal purpose.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my sharp freezer de vice with the topand door in open position and with one of the segmented containersremoved therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional vertical view of my compartmented sharpfreezer taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the upper portion of the sha freezer apparatuswith certain portions of the housing cut away to show internal parts;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view in vertical section of my frozen desertreceptacle, the cover therefor and a segment of the freezer top with itscooperating lug in aligned position therewith; and

Fig. 5 is an individual perspective view of one of the food containersremoved from the sharp freezer unit.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 myfreezing or refrigerating apparatus is surrounded by a vertical housing10. This housing may completely surround and define the internalrefrigerating chamber 11 or may include another attached refrigerationunit not shown in full but indicated as extending fromthe broken lineportion 12 of the housing 10. The top of my freezer is an insulatedmember 13 which may comprise a hinged cover mounted so as to provide2,722,807 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 accessibility to the internalrefrigerating chamber 11 from the top thereof. Disposed in the sidewalls of housing 10 is a doorway 14 the peripheral edge of which ispreferably furnished with a gasket 15 for cooperation with the edges of.door 16 which may be hinged in adjacent relationship. The door 16 has apleasing contour 17 at the outer surface thereof and is provided with afiat surface 18 which, when the door 16 is opened to a lateral positionwith respect to housing 10, will furnish a suitable tray or table toassist in placing on and removing food from the refrigerating chamber.When the top 13 is in closed position the gasket 19 will cooperate withthe top edge 20 of the housing 10. A latch 21 may be positioned on thetop 13 so as to cooperatively engage member 22 on the door .16.

Referring now to Fig. 2 the refrigerating chamber 11 is defined at thebottom thereof by a bottom member 23 which is connected with the housing10 at the inside walls thereof and may extend thereacross to completelyisolate the chamber 11 from the lower walls 12 or may contain openingstherethrough as at 24 to allow circulation of refrigerated air betweenthe freezer refrigerating chamber 11 and the chamber below defined bylower walls 12. Mounted for rotation and cooperatively associated withbottom 23 is a turntable mechanism T which comprises an annular traymember 25 having roller elements 26 for cooperation with grooves ortracks '27 in the bottom member 23. Centrally thereof is an annularopening 28 which may be surrounded by an upstanding flange portion 29for preventing accidental contact between certain relatively movingelements as will be presently described. A similar flange 30 may bedisposed at the periphery of the turntable 25 for the same reasons.Segmental food holders 31, shaped in the form of a cylindrical segmentas shown in Fig. 5, may be disposed circumferentially upon the turntable23' as shown in Fig. l. The food holders 31 are adaptedat their bottomportions 32 for engagement against flanges 29 and 30 of the turntable 25so as to prevent accidental displacement therefrom. Disposed radially ofthe axis of the cylindrical refrigerating chamber 11, and occupying asegmental portion thereof, is a cooling element 33 which is preferablypositioned so as to immediately under lie the top 13 when in closedposition and to overlie the top of one of said segmental food holderswhen it is rotated into position thereunder. The cooling element 33 maybe held in position by bracket 34 which is in turn fixed to the innerwall of housing 10. The cooling element 33 may be of ordinary tubularconstruction having a supply inlet 35 and a return 36 connected to asuitable source of cooling agent such as liquid coolant furnished byordinary refrigerator compressors. The housing 10 may be circular at thefore part of the freezer apparatus and may be provided with a fiat andplane back as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Since the inner wall surfacedefining the refrigerating chamber 11 may be circular throughout forclose clearance with the turntable 25 and the food container 31, theresulting corner space at the rear of the freezer apparatus may beconveniently utilized for the tubes or pipes 35 and 36 as shown in Fig.3. The opposite corner space may house a motor M connected to a drivingmechanism D which is journaled underneath the bottom structure 23 fordriving relation with a stub shaft 37 vertically and axially journaledin the bottom structure 23 in bearing 38. An upper extension of stubshaft 37 terminates in a squared shank 39. A corresponding socket 40 isaxially formed at the bottom of a frozen food receptacle 41 which ispreferably of cylindrical shape as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. A dependingannular flange 42 may be formed at the bottom of receptacle 41 so as tomake for stability when the receptacle is removed from squared shank 39and placed upon a flat surface outside of and independent of the freezerapparatus. The top of receptacle 41 is provided with an annular bearingsurface 43 adapted to cooperate with a bearing surface 44 at theperipheral underside of receptacle cover 45. Depending from theunderside of the cover 45 are blades 48 which are adapted to scrape andagitate foods placed within receptacle 41. Axially of the cover 45 is asocket 46 which is adapted to be held against rotation by the squaredlug 47. The side walls of the socket 46 are tapered so as to allowentrance of the lug 47 in its radial movement when the top 13 is closedupon the upper surface of the housing 10.

In the operation and use of my freezer apparatus I may place withinindividual food holders 31 a variety of foods requiring differentrefrigeration treatment and the turntable may be manually rotated forthe circumferential arrangement of the segmented holders. For example,the position of the turntable as shown in Fig. 1 is such that a foodholder 31 may be placed upon the tray portion 18 of door 16 andconveniently slid into position to complete the circumferentialarrangement of all the food holders. It is understood, of course, thatin normal operation the large top 13 will remain in closed position soas to minimize transfer of heat into compartment 11 and to conserve uponthe energy required during operation of the heat exchange device. Whenall the food holders 31 are in position upon the turntable 25, theentire assembly may be rotated so as to bring one of the trays 31 underthe cooling element 33 for sharp cooling of the contents of thatparticular food holder. The food in the immediately adjoining foodholders will be cooled at a less sharp rate and those holders remotefrom the cooling element 33 will have the lowest rate of cooling. Whenit is desired to make a frozen food product such as ice cream, theprepared materials are placed within the receptacle 41 which is then inturn positioned centrally and in clearance with the turntable 25 so thatsquared socket will engage the squared shank 39 of rotatable shaft 37.Cover with the blades 48 extending into the receptacle 41 is thenbrought into sliding and frictional engagement with the bearing surface43 on receptacle 41. Upon closing the cover 13 the lug 47 will retainthe cover 45 against rotation. When the motor M is energized the shaft37 will rotate together with the receptacle 41 while the blades 48 aremaintained in a stationary position. As the food product is frozen theblades 48 prevent the formation of ice crystals and further serve tostir and mix the product as it is frozen. Upon completion of themanufacture of the frozen food product the container or receptacle 41may be removed from the freezer apparatus and the frozen food productremoved therefrom.

It may thus be seen that I have devised a novel and efiicientrefrigerating apparatus which utilizes the refrigerating space to anextremely high degree. At the same time I have not sacrificedaccessibility but, on the contrary, have so improved the efficiencythereof that any of a number of food holders may be selected andcompletely removed from the chamber at will. By the same turningmovement I may selectively apply a sharp cooling action to any of thefood holders or may apply a lesser cooling effect. In addition to allthis I may simultaneously manufacture a frozen product or store andretain such product in frozen condition without interfering with therotation of my turntable but utilizing the last bit of available spacewithin the refrigerating chamber.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In compartmented freezer or refrigerating apparatus, an upstandinginsulated housing defining a general- 1y cylindrical refrigeratingchamber, a cooling element within said chamber, said housing having adoorway extending through a relatively small portion of the peripherythereof, a door in said doorway, a turntable mechanism mountedsubstantially axially of said chamber and furnishing a supporting mediumfor a plurality of individual food holders, a central, substantiallycylindrical food freezing receptacle removably mounted at the bottom ofsaid cylindrical refrigerating chamber and disposed substantiallycoaxially thereof and a plurality of food holding receptacles ofsegmental shape and having a maximum width less than the width of saiddoorway, said segmental shaped receptacles being supportable upon saidturntable mechanism in a nested relation to occupy the greater part ofsaid chamber between said housing and said central, cylindricalreceptacle and being independently and selectively removable throughsaid doorway by appropriately swinging said turntable mechanism foralignment of a desired segmental receptacle with said doorway.

2. In freezing or refrigerating apparatus, an insulated, upstandinghousing defining an enclosed refrigerating chamber and having a door forgiving access to said chamber, a cooling element mounted in saidchamber, said housing having a lower, fixed supporting structure, arotary driving element extending upwardly through the medial portion ofsaid supporting structure, a food freezing receptacle adapted to besupported from said fixed supporting structure and having an axialelement at the bottom thereof for driving engagement with said rotarydriving element, said freezing receptacle occupying the medial portionof said refrigerating chamber and leaving between itself and saidhousing a space for the support of a plurality of independent fooditems, said receptacle having a removable lid provided withcircumferentially spaced, depending blades disposed within saidreceptacle and means for retaining said lid against rotative movementduring the driving of said receptacle.

3. In compartmented freezing or refrigerating apparatus, an upstandinginsulating housing defining a generally cylindrical refrigeratingchamber, said housing having a doorway extending through a relativelysmall portion of the periphery thereof, a door in said doorway, acooling element within said chamber, a fixed supporting structure at thebottom of said refrigerating chamber, a turntable mechanism mounted inrotatable contact with said fixed supporting structure and substantiallyaxially of said chamber said mechanism furnishing a supporting mediumfor a plurality of individual food holders, a central, sub stantiallycylindrical food freezing receptacle removably mounted on said fixedsupporting structure and disposed substantially coaxially thereof and aplurality of food receptacles of segmental shape and having maximumwidth less than the width of said doorway, said segmental shapedreceptacles being supportable upon said turntable mechanism in a nestedrelation to occupy the greater part of said chamber between said housingand said central cylindrical receptacle and being independently andselectively removable through said doorway by appropriately swingingsaid turntable mechanism for alignment of a desired segmental receptaclewith said doorway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,684Scott July 10, 1840 2,026,227 Foraker Dec. 31, 1935 2,051,271 PassmoreAug. 18, 1936 2,091,292 Scurlock Aug. 31, 1937 2,133,856 Guthrie Oct.18, 1938 2,201,411 Smith May 21, 1940 2,457,919 Ramsey Jan. 4, 19492,460,341 Erickson Feb. 1, 1949 2,588,563 Paul Mar. 11, 1952 2,638,400Spotts May 12, 1953

